Federal Courts Score Victory as DOJ Abandons Trump’s Order Against Law Firms
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has dropped its defense of executive orders targeting major U.S. law firms after multiple federal judges ruled the actions unconstitutional, escalating a high-stakes clash over presidential power.
According to Reuters, the Justice Department withdrew its appeals in four cases involving Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey. The move effectively ends the government’s effort to reinstate orders that would have restricted security clearances, access to federal buildings and government contracts for those firms.
The executive orders had drawn sharp legal resistance, with courts finding they likely violated constitutional protections including free speech, due process and the right to counsel. Judges blocked the measures before they could take effect.
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The sudden retreat leaves unanswered questions about why the administration abandoned the fight and whether similar strategies could resurface in other forms. Some firms had previously struck agreements with the White House to avoid sanctions, creating divisions within the legal industry.
“The Trump administration finally admits what everyone knew on Day 1: There is no way to defend these unconstitutional executive orders,” an ACLU spokesperson said in a statement.
The development reinforces the judiciary’s role in checking executive authority and may influence how aggressively future administrations use executive orders against private institutions.
For now, the courtroom battle that once threatened parts of Big Law has effectively ended, though broader tensions between the White House and legal institutions remain.
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